"...ye are only in the service of your God" (Mosiah 2:17)

In my scripture study today a new thought came to me as I read a scripture that I have read many, many times. The scripture is Mosiah 2:17. "And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God".

By serving others I serve God. God, He is the Creator of heaven and earth. The God who knows all things, and has all wisdom, even so much that I cannot comprehend all that He has done and will do for us (see Mosiah 4:9) He is the Creator of my body, the Father of my soul. How could I possibly serve Him who needs nothing and has everything? He simply wants me to serve Him by serving others. Why? I think it's about love.

I continue to ponder this humbling gift I can offer the King of Kings (see Revelations 17:14). Most kings want money, they want power, they often tax their people heavily and live lives of luxury and... some would confine their people "in dungeons..." or would have them "murder, or plunder, or steal, or commit adultery; or that [they] should commit any manner of wickedness" (Mosiah 2:12-13). But what Jesus Christ, the "Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6) asks of us is so simple and good: "Love Me, Love your neighbor as yourself" (see Matthew 22:36-40).

When I ponder serving my God, I view this command from Him very differently. He says, "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren ye have done it unto me" (Matthew 25:40). Thinking about how I treat others...it's how I would treat Him.

This thought has caused me to pause and ponder my own behavior. I can love and serve with more kindness, more patience. I can forgive more quickly and let go of the need to be "right". I want to serve Him, even Jesus Christ, my God, my King (see Sweet is the Work). Therefore, I will keep trying to serve others. I am eternally indebted to Him who gave His life for me, and for you. Go and serve one another. It's how Jesus Christ wants us to serve Him. 

This delicious cinnamon roll was given to me by our neighbor. They continue to serve me and my family in many sweet ways! Thank you for serving us...and therefore serving God. 

Remember- you are so loved! Keep up the Great Work!

"...look forward unto Christ with steadfastness..." (2 nephi 26:8)

As I look forward at the rapidly approaching Christmas season I realize I make a yearly promise that "this season will be different". I promise myself that I will worry less about shopping, getting stuff, and being places and do more for the people I love. The "do more" would be spend time with my family, and serve my neighbors, be aware of those in need and "lift the hands that hang down and the feeble knees" (Hebrews 12:12) and really give the gift of love the Savior taught to give. I realize that it isn't just a seasonal problem or dilemma. It is a year round challenge to "look forward unto Christ with steadfastness" (2 nephi 26:8) and to continually "seek this Jesus of whom the prophets and apostles have written" (Ether 12:41) and do testify of.

In the Old Testament Lot's wife didn't look forward, but "looked back" (Genesis 19:26). She wanted to return to the former life they had in Sodom and Gomorrah. I seem to have the same problem with my Christmas planning. Procrastination isn't a very good gift for me to be giving on a regular basis, and going on a personal guilt trip doesn't make the Christmas season much of a vacation. It isn't a very relaxed time of the year. Shoving aside all my weaknesses, and wiping the slate clean is a real challenge for me. But, Christ has said and promised, "Learn of me, and listen to my words; walk in the meekness of my Spirit, and you shall have peace in me" (D&C 19:23). Notice, we must learn and listen and walk. He has given us a formula we can follow.

In our day and age people really like science and want proof and evidence. One formula that is guaranteed peace, from "The Prince of Peace" Himself (Isaiah 9:6; 2 Nephi 19:6) is: learn of Christ; listen to His words; walk in the meekness of His Spirit. Christ looked forward. He suffered in Gethsemane "being in an agony...and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground" (Luke 22:44). He then was taken prisoner and abandoned by his friends (Luke 22:47-62), yet, He looked forward. "They mocked Him, and smote Him" (Luke 22:63-71) which we would now call the worst kind of bullying ever. He was tried unfairly (see Luke 23:13-24), and then, looking forward, He carried his own cross and was then crucified (see Luke 23:26). The wonderful joy is that He did not remain in the grave. The angels stated, "He is not here, but is risen" (Luke 24:6). At His death He looked forward knowing He would rise again (see Mark 16:9; Luke 24:39; 3 Nephi 11:12-15).

Ahead there is great joy! Faith in Christ always leads to joy. I hope to focus this coming Christmas season on Christ, just as President Dieter F. Uchtdorf has said. "[Christmas] should...be a time of looking to the future. Let us look forward. Let us prepare for that blessed day when He will come again. Let us be as wise as those ancients who watched for His coming. As His disciples, let us have in our hearts and minds the words of John: "Even so, come, Lord Jesus" (Seeing Christmas through New Eyes). May we "look forward unto Christ with steadfastness" (2 nephi 26:8) not only in the coming Christmas season, but every day of the year. There is great joy as we look forward with faith in Christ. This I testify.

Our family looking forward to the coming year (taken New Year's Eve 2013). Here's to the coming Christmas season and all that is ahead!

"...to be spiritually minded is life eternal" (2 Nephi 9:39)

As I drove my son to school the other morning I must have cut a man off or something because when we stopped at the light the man just glared at me and did not smile. He appeared to be extremely angry, or at least that is what his look told me. I looked back at him and smiled a big smile, like this (I was in these clothes, and wearing my sunglasses, took this photo shortly after for full effect): 

My smile then melted into a genuine smile: 

The man then relaxed and actually smiled back. My son commented to me that the man must have been pretty angry. He asked me what I had done to tick him off. I said I didn't know, and I hadn't done it on purpose. It's not like I try and go around making people angry; that doesn't feel good. If anything, I prefer peace and definitely a smile back.

As I drove home I pondered the smile and what a difference it made. In 2 Nephi 9:39 it states: "Remember, to be carnally-minded is death, and to be spiritually minded is life eternal". Spiritually Minded Is Life Eternal- there is your S.M.I.L.E. When we focus on "the things that matter most" (Pres. Dieter F. Uchtdorf), the things that can be felt with the heart, then we are being spiritually minded. This may mean that "we have to forego some good things in order to choose others that are better or best because they develop faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and strengthen our families"(Elder Dallin H. Oaks). Spiritually minded things develop our faith and strengthen our families. Letting go of anger, forgiving, being patient, just to name a few things, can be felt with the heart and help develop faith and strengthen our families.

The Romans were reminded the importance of being spiritually minded, "For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is peace" (Romans 8:6). There is peace in our busy lives when we "seek this Jesus of whom the apostles and prophets have written" (Ether 12:41) in all we do and say. It can be a challenge to do this in a world filled with tight schedules, stress, and so many choices of how to spend our time, let alone our money. As we look back over our lives, the things that last the longest are the memories we create, our relationships we have with others, and our testimony of Jesus Christ, "The Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6; 2 Nephi 19:6). Pres Dieter F. Uchtdorf taught: "Diligently doing the things that matter most will lead us to the Savior of the world" (Of Things That Matter Most) and thus we will S.M.I.L.E.


Enjoy a short video: "Moments That Matter Most"